DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter Chapter Twenty-Three: Future Couple
Chapter Twenty-Three: Future Couple
PHILIP walked with her from the bookstore to the Bismarck Ancestral home in Trudor Square. She giggled at Philip’s stories regarding Jean’s constant request for a shopping partner. Without Hyacinth, Jean was left with no choice but to ask Philip to assist her with shopping for the gender reveal party.
“I knew she was carrying a boy.”
Philip chuckled. “Let me guess. You’ve read Jean’s thread?”
Hyacinth nodded in agreement, grinning with enthusiasm. “I can’t help it. I wanna make sure Andrei is the right guy for her. Then, I accidentally saw her kids.”
“It’s perfectly reasonable for you to do that. You adore Jean as if she’s your sister. You always wanted what’s best for her.”
They’ve finally reached the gate of Bismarck Mansion. To her surprise, Maine is chasing a rabbit around the pavement near the massive gate.
“Maine? You didn’t tell me you have a pet.”
Maine finally caught the rabbit, giggling as her obsidian-black waves tumbled on her shoulders. “Oh, Hyacinth. My pet rabbit hopped off my lap while we were strolling in the garden with Erin.” Then, Maine’s gaze narrowed as she looked at Philip. “Who are you?”
“Where’re your manners, kid? I’m thirty.”
“And I’m almost twenty. So?” She raised a brow. “Why are you with Hyacinth? She’s engaged to my brother.”
There was a wicked gleam in Philip’s eyes as he regarded Maine with interest. “Good god, you look thirteen.”
Maine smoothed the rabbit’s fur as she tried to divert her gaze from the man beside Hyacinth.
And then it hit her.
Erin once said that Maine will marry Philip in the future.
Oh my god! She witnessed the future couple’s first meeting!
Curling her toes inside her shoes, Hyacinth pulled Maine beside her with a huge smile on her face. Her excitement bubbled up inside her like she was a can of soda that was about to burst. “Philip, this is Maine. She’s Erin’s Aunt.”
Maine shook her head in disbelief. “Wait—he knows your secret?!”
“He’s the only man I trusted, Maine—that was when I first arrived here in this city. He’s the one who helped me move here in this city and supported me throughout my journey.”
Maine looked at the man in front of her as if she were dealing with a peculiar being. “Are you that detective that Erin kept talking about? The sweet guy? You don’t look sweet at all.”
Philip grinned from ear to ear. “I’m many things but sweet, sugar plum.”
Hyacinth almost squealed in delight when Maine’s cheeks reddened. The girl seemed to have noticed how strangely she reacted to Philip’s predatory glare.
Philip may look intimidating but his compassion for those who needed help transcends the generous nature of a deity.
Maine stormed inside the mansion without saying goodbye to Philip. Even Hyacinth is puzzled by how the lady reacted.
“Forgive Maine, Philip. She’s homeschooled. She has zero interactions with people outside. She’s not rude if you will approach her with gentleness.”
“Well, Hyacinth, she needs to grow up and learn that people will not adjust themselves for her. She needs to figure out how to interact with politeness with a stranger, especially with someone older than her. The sooner, the better.”
“Philip, she’s ten years younger than you. Please be kind to her, okay?”
He sighed. “I hate spoiled brats.”
“But she’s not spoiled. She tends to buy expensive stuff but I’ve heard that she’s only spending a small percentage of her shares in her family’s company.”
“Then why isn’t she working?”
“That’s because her brother takes care of her and her trust fund is enough to feed her in fifty lifetimes.”
Philip sighed as a sign of defeat. “Sorry about my outburst, Haya. I don’t know why I’m vexed with the woman.”
That’s because you’re destined to be with her, you fool! She wanted to answer, but she shook her head instead. Hyacinth noticed that Philip used the word ‘woman’ to refer to Maine Bismarck.
Oh, she wanted to scream in delight. Philip saw Maine Bismarck as a woman! A woman!
“Don’t fuss about it. I’m sure you’re just tired, especially with the pressure of being a senior detective officer in your thirties.”
“I guess so.” Philip held her hands and clasped them firmly. “Give me a call if you need help, okay? Promise me.”
Hyacinth smiled at Philip, grateful that at least she has friends whose genuinely concerned with her welfare. Even though Detective Mayers used her ability for his gain, Hyacinth knew that Philip’s concern for her well-being is a genuine one. It was because Philip saw her as a tool for justice.
But he respects her, not because she’s a tool he had used to his advantage but because she cared for his goals. She cared enough to help him bring the truth to light...to help innocent people to prove their innocence.
That was the reason why he once asked her to marry him. He respects her morals.
“She won’t need your help, Mayers. Don’t bother.”
She felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. That caused Hyacinth to automatically pulled her hands from Philip’s grip so that she could push the veiny, muscular arm away from her back.
The voice belonged to Maximillian Bismarck, by the way. God, she didn’t even notice his presence until three seconds ago.
“I’m not asking for your opinion.”
“I’ll marry her next week. She’ll be under my care. I’m telling you to not bother yourself with her anymore.”
“Marriage doesn’t constitute ownership, though, Mr. Bismarck.” Philip raised his hands as a sign of defeat. “You better reduce that commanding tone and the draconian attitude if you want to keep Hyacinth. She hates domineering people. Just a head’s up.”
Philip turned his back and walked slowly towards his car whistling.
“I fuckin’ hate that man.”
She tried to remove his arm around her waist but Max only pulled her closer in his arms. “Sorry about the interruption. I was just annoyed by the fact that Philip will marry my sister in the future.”
“So, you’re trying to push him away from ever meeting Maine?”
“Yes...and I got irritated when...” He cleared his throat as if he got something uncomfortable in his throat. “Never mind. Let’s go inside.”
“But you almost chose him as your best man, though.”
Hyacinth looked up to see Max’s expression She was shocked to see his face devoid of any emotion. It is as if he’s hiding them from her—not that Maximillian Bismarck was known for being an expressive, sensitive man. It’s just that he never keeps his opinions or rants to himself.
He never suppressed his emotions until now.
“I don’t have many friends. He’s your closest male friend so I considered the idea. If Andrei didn’t offer himself for the role, then I had no choice but to ask Philip.”
Oh, that explains it. He pities himself because he doesn’t have friends. He has a lot of business associates, though, but friends? Hyacinth hasn’t really met one.
They walked slowly to the graveled pathway towards the mansion. She could sense that Max is speculating that she was thinking about his lack of friends.
“Am I weird? I don’t have friends.”
“You’re a busy man, Max. You became the head of your family at a very young age. You managed your family business and took care of Maine while you were at it. I wouldn’t really say that your social interaction incompetence is a factor in that dilemma. You simply don’t have the time for that.”
Max’s eyes sparkled in amusement. “You think so?”
“Yes...and, also, Jean Baden is your friend. See? You’re lucky to have her by your side.”
“She’s working for me, Haya. She doesn’t count.”
“You do realize that Jean was almost harmed trying to protect your company secrets. She knew you’ll lose everything if she revealed a single piece of information about the contract between an overseas company in Eastern Isles.”
He stopped in his tracks. “How did you—” and then he realized. “Yes, of course. You’ve read Jean’s thread. That’s where you learned it from.”
She chuckled. “What do you think I’ll do? Stand by and watch my friend suffer in the E.R. without me knowing why? Of course, I had to seek the answer from her thread. She won’t tell me what happened even if it kills her.”
They sighed in unison, both respectively admiring Jean’s loyalty to them throughout the years.
“I guess you’re right. Jean is a friend. A dear one.”
Hyacinth smiled at that, secretly adoring Max’s ears redden like ripe tomatoes.